Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes college football's so-called financial "crisis" is nothing more than fiction — and he's using James Franklin's massive buyout to make his point.
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Florio writes that the $49 million Penn State owes Franklin is just one piece of a growing puzzle. With Sunday firings at Florida and Colorado State added in, the total "money-for-nothing" figure across college football has already reached $116 million. And it's only October 20.
"There will be more firings. More buyouts," Florio opines. "More college football programs not flinching at the cost of doing business when it comes to no longer wanting to be in business with the current coach."
Florio argues that the sport's willingness to shell out that kind of money undercuts any claims of financial instability.
"The ongoing 'sky is falling' narrative regarding college football is, frankly, nonsense," he writes. "If the walls were indeed tumbling down, buyouts would be a non-starter."
He contends that the problem isn't lack of money but shifting priorities. Booster cash that once went solely to programs now flows to NIL deals and player payments. It's all part of what Florio calls a long-overdue correction to a "walking, quacking, flapping antitrust violation."
"The ratings are up," Florio concludes. "The sport is as competitive now as it was before players got paid. It's all about the 'haves' not liking that the 'have-nots' finally have some."
In short, Florio writes, college football isn't broke. It's just adjusting, and the nine-figure buyout tab proves it can afford to.
